Michael S. Abboud, 35, of De Soto has been charged with a felony for allegedly trying to steal a vehicle in the 1500 block of Robin Hood Drive in Arnold, and he’s suspected in several other vehicle break-ins and offenses in the city, authorities report.
Overnight between Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 Abboud allegedly damaged the steering column while trying to steal the vehicle on Robin Hood Drive, causing about $400 in damage, the report said.
There were several other vehicle break-ins around that same time, and Arnold Police suspect Abboud, a prior offender, is involved in those as well, Detective Lt. James Jones said.
Those incidents occurred after Abboud reportedly had an argument with his girlfriend at an Arnold home and then went the alleged crime spree, Jones said.
Abboud is suspected of breaking into an unlocked vehicle parked in the 1500 block of Polly, which is near his girlfriend’s home, and stealing a Browning 9mm handgun valued at $750, Jones said.
During that same period, he allegedly broke into an unlocked vehicle parked in the 1600 block of Lonedell and stole an iPad valued at $750, the report said.
Abboud is suspected of breaking into another vehicle on Berry Court, but nothing was stolen in that case, Jones said.
Just before 5 a.m., a man who lives on Berry Court reported seeing two men trying to break into a neighbor’s vehicle, and when he confronted them, they fired two shots. Fortunately, the shots didn’t strike the witness, but they did strike two nearby vehicles, the report said.
Shortly after that incident, an Arnold Police officer spotted Abboud walking about two blocks away, and he was sweating and out of breath. After he was questioned, the officer let him go, but later Abboud was identified as a suspect in the incidents and was arrested on Nov. 2, Jones said.
He said Abboud, who formerly lived in Fenton, House Springs, High Ridge and Imperial, confessed to trying to steal the vehicle on Robin Hood Drive but nothing else.
On Nov. 3, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Abboud with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a class C felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.
He was being held Friday (Nov. 11) in the Jefferson County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
The case is still under investigation, so other charges could be filed later, Jones said.
He said police also are seeking a “possible second suspect” in the vehicle break-ins.
Abboud also is facing felony and misdemeanor charges in two previous cases.
He’s facing three felony charges, one for first-degree burglary and the other for tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution, as well as a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge stemming from a July 27 incident in Fenton, court records show.
In that case, Abboud allegedly unlawfully entered an unlocked home in the 500 block of Saline Road and confronted a woman there who he said owed him money. After an argument, Abboud reportedly left the home but returned, kicking in the front door, which was then locked, and threatened the woman before leaving again, the probable-cause statement said.
Abboud also is facing a felony charge for tampering with a motor vehicle and another one for resisting arrest tied to a June 6 incident High Ridge, court papers indicate.
In that case, a Jefferson County deputy spotted a stolen vehicle headed east on Hwy. 30 near Little Brennan Road in High Ridge and tried to pull over Abboud, who was driving, but he fled, running a red light and several stop signs and swerving into oncoming traffic, forcing vehicles off the road and causing two vehicle crashes, the probable-cause statement said.
After the second crash, the suspect got out of the vehicle and ran away, but the deputy and a police dog chased him, and he eventually was taken into custody. Abboud was wearing black gloves, which were taken as evidence, and when the deputy searched him, he allegedly was found with a syringe with residue in it, which also was taken as evidence, the report said.
Those two cases are still pending.
In addition, Abboud previously was convicted of felony tampering with a motor vehicle connected to a February 2012 incident in Jefferson County, with felony stealing of a motor vehicle and property damage and misdemeanor assault stemming from a different incident in February 2012 in St. Louis and with a felony drug charge tied to a November 2005 incident in Dent County, according to court records.